Twenty-one Taleban fighters have been killed in a clash with British soldiers in southern Afghanistan, the BBC has been told.
The six-hour battle took place in the southern province of Helmand on Sunday.

Reports say the troops came under fire from the militants when they were on a routine search operation.

British troops have recently begun setting up bases in Helmand. They are part of an expanded Nato deployment in southern Afghanistan.

The fighting took place in the village of Nowzad. Earlier, British officials said only five Taleban had been killed.

Counter-insurgency role

The BBC's Paul Wood in Helmand says the soldiers were jumping off helicopters when they came under fire. No British soldier was injured in the fighting.

Afghan soldiers also fought along with British troops.

British commanders say it is significant that the Taleban stood and fought and that they earned the grudging respect of the parachute regiment soldiers.

According to British sources, the Afghan police fired indiscriminately putting civilians at risk and when confronted by the Taleban they broke and ran.

Our correspondent says the incident shows that the British army is involved in an active counter insurgency campaign in Helmand, not just in reconstruction work.

One of the main reasons behind the deployment of 3,300 British troops in the province is to help the newly-formed Afghan National Army (ANA) fight the increasingly violent militant groups based around the Pakistan border and curb the drugs trade that funds them.

Helmand produces nearly 20% of the world's opium.

The Taleban in Helmand have been promising the locals protection for their poppy fields against the poppy eradication programmes - in return for support for their attacks against Western troops.

In February, nearly 16 militants were killed in a battle between Afghan troops and Taleban fighters in Helmand.

Confed999

10 Jun 06,, 02:09

Keep chewin' 'em up guys!

pdf27

10 Jun 06,, 20:35

Keep chewin' 'em up guys!
IIRC this was 3 Para who got involved in the fighting. Dare I suggest that the Taleban are lucky that the Mortar Platoon have (apparently) reformed somewhat since the 1980s...

pdf27

11 Jun 06,, 21:53

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5070098.stm

RIP

dave angel

13 Jun 06,, 10:46

the British soldier was named today as Captain Jim Philippson of 7 (PARA) Royal Horse Artillery.